Pitchside

European Team of the Week: Brilliant Bayern!

Bayern Munich's unstoppable charge to the Bundesliga title sees three of their players named in our European team of the weekend - although it could have been the full XI after the 5-0 thumping of Eintrach Frankfurt.

Franck Ribery and Mario Goetze both managed a goal and an assist as Bayern's version of the tiki-taka saw them extend their lead atop the Bundesliga to 13 points. Rafinha was also named in the best XI for a second week in a row.

While none of Bayern's trio are actually German, the home of the Bundesliga did provide two more players in Arsenal's Per Mertesacker and Hoffenheim's former Bayern full-back Andreas Beck; furthermore, Mame Biram Diouf's brace for Hannover against Borussia Moenchengladbach means five of the XI hail from Germany's top flight.

Serie A is conspicuous by its absence, with players from England (3), France (2) and Spain (1) rounding out the top XI. Liga's sole entry is Lionel Messi who, despite featuring in a disappointing 3-2 home defeat to Valencia, was responsible for both of Barcelona's goals via an assist and a penalty.